Publication Info.

Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
(대한기계학회논문집A)

Aim & Scope

The Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers "A" is a monthly periodical published on the 1st day of each month. The aim of the journal is to provide an international forum for the publication and dissemination of original works that contribute to the understanding of the following fields of mechanical engineering: Materials and Fracture, CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) and Applied Mechanics, Dynamics and Control, Production and Design Engineering, and Reliability. Manuscripts may fall into several categories including regular contributed papers, technical papers, solicited/unsolicited reviews or commentaries.

Nickel-phosphorus alloys are attractive materials for diamond turning applications such as fabrication of large optics and other high precision parts. It is also well-known that the higher phosphorus content of the alloys minimizes the diamond tool wear. Due to the weakness of electoless nickel plating that the phosphorus contents is limited to 13-14% (wgt), increased attention has been paid at electro-nickel plating which enables the alloys with 15-16% phosphorus. In this study, experiments were carried out to observe the wear characteristic of single crystal diamond tools in micro-grooving of electro-nickel plated drums. The experiments shows that long distance (50km) machining of micro-grooving on electro-nickel plated drum is possible with a single crystal diamond tool without any significant tool wear and defective machined surface.

Mechanical stimulation is known to play a vital role on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to pre-osteoblasts. In this research, we developed a tensile cell stimulator, composed of a DC motor-driven actuator and LVDT sensor for measuring linear displacement, to study the effects of tensile stress on osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. First, we demonstrated the reliability of this device by showing the uniform strain field in the silicon substrate. Secondly, we investigated the effects of tensile stretching on osteogenic differentiation. We imposed a pre-set cyclic strain at a fixed frequency on cell monolayer cultured on a flexible silicon substrate while varying its amplitude and duration. 60 min of resting period was allowed between 30 min of cyclic stretching and this cycle is repeated up to 7 days. Under the combined stimulation with osteogenic media and mechanical stretching, the osteogenic markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osterix, and osteopontin began to get expressed as early as 4 days of stimulation, which is much shorter than what is typically required for osteogenic media induced differentiation. Moreover, different markers were induced at different magnitudes of the applied strains. Lastly, for the case of ALP, we observed the antagonistic effects of osteogenic media when combined with mechanical stretching.

We have analyzed the biomechanical characteristics of cervical spine after total disc replacement using finite element analysis. A finite element model of C2-C7 spinal motion segment was developed and validated by other experimental studies. Two types of artificial discs, semi-constraint and un-constraint, were inserted at C6-C7 segments. Inferior plane of C7 vertebra was fixed and 1Nm of moment were applied on superior plane of C2 vertebra with 50N of compressive load along follower load direction. Mobility of the cervical spine in which each artificial disc inserted was higher than that of intact one in all loading conditions. Also, high mobility at the surgical level after total disc replacement could lead higher facet joint force and ligaments axial stresses. The results of present study could be used to evaluate surgical option and validate the biomechanical characteristics of the implant in total disc replacement in cervical spine.

Previous studies have introduced the technique of spinous process osteotomy to decompress spinal stenosis, a procedure which aims to afford excellent visualization while minimizing destruction of tissues not directly involved in the pathologic process. However, biomechanically it has not been investigated whether the sacrifice of posterior spinous process might have potential risk of spinal instability or not, even though supra-spinous and inter-spinous ligaments are preserved. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical properties after spinous process osteotomy, using finite element analysis. The model of spinous process osteotomy exhibited no significant increase in disc stress or change in segmental range of motion. It is due to the fact that the instability of lumbar spine has been maintained by the two-types of ligaments compared with the prior surgical technique. Therefore, according to the finite element result on this study, this osotetomy was considered to be a clinically safe surgical procedure and could not cause the instability of the lumbar spine.

Strength characteristics of $Si_3N_4$ composite ceramics has been studied as functions of heat-treatment temperature and additive $SiO_2$. $SiO_2$ colloidal could significantly increase the bending strength. Crack healing temperature decreased 300 K by additive $TiO_2$. Bending strength of specimen added $SiO_2$ is higher than that of non-added $SiO_2$. Moreover, bending strength of specimen with $SiO_2$ colloidal coating is much higher that of non-coated specimen. In in-situ observation, crack-healed specimen at 1,573 K shows phenomenon like a fog on the surface. By SPM, both crack-healed specimen, non-coating and coating of $SiO_2$ colloidal, at 1,273 K were healed completely but both of 1,573 K exist crack. This was made by evaporation of $SiO_2$ at high temperature. Crack-healing materials of $Si_3N_4$ composite ceramics is crystallized $Y_2Si_2O_7$, $Y_2Ti_2O_7$ and $SiO_2$. A large amount of Si and O, and little C were detected by EPMA. Si and O increase but C decreases according to heat treatment temperature. Specimens with additive $SiO_2$ were more detected Si and O than that of non-additive $SiO_2$. Specimen with $SiO_2$ colloidal coatings were much more detected O.

Eddy current is usually generated in the material with high conductivity by time-varying source such as AC current and also is induced by the moving source with relative velocity. The contactless magnetic brake makes use of the braking force from the eddy current generated by the moving source and currently used for the secondary brakes of heavy trucks, buses and rail vehicles. This study aims to design the magnetization pattern of the eddy current brake system of a permanent magnet type where the design aim is to maximize the braking force. The analysis of brake systems is based on the two-dimensional finite element analysis. We use the sequential linear programming as the optimizer and the adjoint variable method is applied for the sensitivity analysis.

Nozzle in nuclear power plant is connected to pipe using safe end. Dissimilar metal weld between nozzle and safe end is followed by similar metal weld between safe end and pipe. And thus residual stress in dissimilar metal weld can be affected by similar metal weld. Similar metal weld impose bending stress on dissimilar metal weld, which is according to the length of safe end. In this study, simple nozzle model which covers various radius to thickness ratios was proposed to quantify residual stress in dissimilar metal weld based on finite element analyses. As a result, short length of safe end was proved to be more effective to mitigate residual stress in dissimilar metal weld and critical effective length of safe end is provided according to the radius to thickness ratio.

In this study, die cooling system using the nitrogen gas has been applied to hot aluminum extrusion process for refining grains and reducing of grain growth. Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) has been carried out to evaluate die cooling effect by nitrogen gas, and the results of CFD have been used to FE-simulation for the prediction of the extrudate temperature in hot extrusion process. Experimental hot extrusion has been performed to observe microstructure and to measure temperature of extrudate. The results of FE-Simulation have been good agreement with those of experiment. Finally, process condition of hot extrusion can be established to reduce grain growth of Al6061 through the experiment.

Direct laser metal forming technology was applied to restore the damaged mold surface. In order to estimate melting characteristics of the $20{\mu}m$ Fe-Cr-Ni powder, single layer experiments were performed at various levels of heat input. The process window of the $20{\mu}m$ Fe-Cr-Ni powder provided feasible process parameters for the smooth regular surface. The cross hatching scanning strategy on the multiple layer experiment was performed to reduce the thickness non-uniformity of edge portions compared with the one direction scanning. To estimate the coherence between the melted powder and the basematal, the tendency of hardness distribution has been observed. The hardness of the melted and the remelted zone was distributed from 400HV to 600HV. It is over 2 times compared of the hardness of the basemetal. Experimental results show that the mold restoring process using direct laser metal forming can be successfully applied in the mold repair industry.

The friction welding of Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) rods and tubes to similar BMGs, and to crystalline metals were performed. An infrared thermal imager (FLIR-Thermal Cam SC-2000) was used to measure the temperature distribution at joining interface of the specimens during friction welding. All BMGs adopted in this study showed a successful friction joining to similar BMG. The shape of the protrusion formed at the weld interface were examined. In order to characterize the friction weld interface, the micrographic observation and the X-ray diffraction analysis on the weld cross-section were carried out. The obtained results were discussed based on the temperature distribution measured at the weld interface A successful joining of the BMGs to crystalline metals could be obtained for certain pairs of the material combination through the precise control of the friction condition. The residual strength after dissimilar friction welding of BMG was evaluated by the four-point bending test and compared with the cases of friction welding to similar materials.

This paper shows mechanical properties and behaviors of macro- and micro-structures on friction stir welded specimen with 6061-T6 aluminum alloy plate. It apparently results in defect-free weld zone jointed at welding conditions like the traverse speed of 267mm/min, tool rotation speed of 2500rpm, pin inserted depth of 4.5mm and tilting angle of $2^{\circ}$ with tool dimensions such as tool pin diameter of 5mm, shoulder diameter of 15mm and pin length of 4.5mm. The tensile stress ${\sigma}_T=228MPa$ and the yield point ${\sigma}Y=141MPa$ are obtained at the condition of traverse speed of 267mm/min and tool rotation speed of 2500rpm. With the constant rotation speed, the higher traverse speed become, the higher tensile stress and yielding point become. Vickers hardness for welding zone profile were also presented.

In order to enhance the dynamic stiffness of automotive panel, effect of bead and curved surface was investigated. Modal test was performed for principle specimens which have various kinds of beads, holes and curved surfaces. Test was also performed for conventional dash panel assembly and rear floor panel assembly and curved shaped ones. Results showed that curved shape increased the natural frequency of automotive panel more effectively than the bead. Finite element analysis was also performed and yielded good match with the test results.